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When recession strikes, more and more people find themselves struggling to provide for themselves and the ones they love, searching for any way not even to get ahead but just to get by. And One of These Days was inspired by the true story of a desperate man who was determined to turn his luck around.
One of These Days joins 20 people in a small Texas town who have been chosen to compete to win a brand new truck. All they need to do is keep a hand on the truck and keep it there until everyone else has been eliminated from the competition. Even with regular breaks and a tent over their heads, though, the challenge is grueling—and, gradually, their numbers begin to decrease. But Kyle (Joe Cole) is determined to do whatever it takes to win the truck to help his struggling young family.
As the competitors stand around the truck, each with their own strategy for winning, the film struggles to build enough tension. These 20 characters all feel like random strangers, and it’s hard to care about the outcome of the competition. Even Kyle, who’s set up as the film’s hero, gets minimal development—certainly not enough to make viewers feel attached to him.
Strangely, the character who’s developed the most isn’t one of the competitors. Joan (Carrie Preston) is an upbeat but lonely single mom who organizes the annual event for the dealership. While the competitors stay with the truck, the film often follows Joan on mediocre dates and visits with her aging mother—but her story doesn’t seem to have any real impact on the rest of the film.
As the competition drags on through a number of days, there are a couple of revelations and a few bursts of action: a medical emergency, an eliminated competitor who refuses to go quietly, and plenty of trash talking. But, surprisingly, many of the competitors just call it a day and leave without much fanfare, which makes it all feel incredibly anti-climactic. And even when the story comes to its dramatic conclusion, there simply isn’t enough emotion there to make for a truly powerful film.
Though it seems to offer up a message about loneliness and desperation, One of These Days fails to make a real connection. And, in the end, it feels about as thrilling as watching an event like this one play out in real time.
You can choose to watch One of These Days in select theaters or on demand beginning on April 14, 2023.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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